If you’ve lurked around in the field of writing for a few years, you may have come across the concept of extended metaphor or recurring imagery. These professional-sounding (and sometimes intimidating) tools work like an artist’s paintbrush, as Tess Callahan explains in her article “Train Your Eye for Better Writing: 3 Writing Techniques Adapted from the Visual Arts.”

Complex imagery isn’t just for fiction writers, either. These tools are vital to rich nonfiction writing. For more resources on weaving in resonance, check out “Writing Techniques That Sing: Creating Resonance with Words.”